Money For Moray

The Money for Moray Group is made up of 15 volunteer community representatives who came together in early 2016 to design and deliver a pilot Participatory Budgeting (PB) grant scheme in Moray. PB is a process whereby the residents of Moray decide how public money is allocated based on their needs and priorities.

Membership of the Money for Moray Group comprises representatives from Community Councils, Area Forums and the Moray Federation of Community Halls and Associations. The Group operates on an entirely voluntary and independent basis and its members are drawn from all parts of Moray.

The Money for Moray Group was initially asked to deliver, via the PB process, £120,000 of funding - £60,000 was received from the Scottish Government and this was match funded by Moray Council.

Community and voluntary groups in rural areas of Moray were invited to apply for between £200 and £5000 for projects that would benefit their local economy. Groups that submitted applications which met the criteria were then invited to do a two minute presentation on their project at one of two public events held in the Grant Hall at Rothes. The public then voted for their favourite 10 projects. A total of 23 groups presented at the May event, and 27 at the June event, with 17 groups being successful on each occasion.

Following on from the success of the pilot scheme, the Money for Moray Group applied in 2017 to the Scottish Government’s Community Choices fund to run a second scheme, and secured £40,000 funding to be allocated to projects which tacked social isolation across Moray.

This round of funding resulted in 18 groups presenting to more than 150 people who attended the public voting event. . Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government & Housing, was in attendance and outlined the Scottish Government's commitments to PB up till now and emphasised that community-led events such as the Money for Moray event will continue to be a focus in the future.

Moray Council then allocated a further £55,000 to the Money for Moray Group. Approximately 130 members of the public voted which resulted in 19 community groups receiving funding for projects which would help boost the local economy of Moray.

In 2018, the Money for Moray Group will deliver a further £60,000 of funding – this time applications are being sought for projects that will deliver an improvement to the Health and Wellbeing of the people of Moray, irrespective of which age group they belong to.

Press Release

Released January 15 2018

New Applications are invited
Health & Wellbeing For All Ages

The latest round of funding available is now open for applications. Click HERE » for the online application form

Press Release

Released January 9 2018

New Funds Available
Health & Wellbeing For All Ages

Money for Moray is pleased to announce that it has secured £60,000 of Scottish Government Community Choices funding to allocate through the participatory budgeting process to community groups throughout Moray, this time on the theme of health and wellbeing for all ages.

The World Health Organisation’s definition of health and wellbeing is: Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

The Money for Moray Group will be looking for projects that are sustainable and will:

Ensure people are able to look after and improve their own health and wellbeing, and live in good health for longer.

Provide additional or new services.

Grant funding of between £200 and £4,000 is available and the application process opens on 15th January 2018.
All completed application forms must be submitted by 5.00 p.m. on 16th February 2018.

Application forms (when available) can be downloaded from: www.moneyformoray.org or by e-mailing enquiries@moneyformoray.org. Hard copies of the application can be obtained by telephoning 01343 843025 and leaving a message for Anita Milne.

The public event to decide which projects should receive funding will be held on Sunday 18th March in the Grant Hall, Rothes.

Participatory budgeting is now being used across Scotland as a means of communities making democratic decisions about funding for their areas. Some of the benefits of using this model include an increase in participation in democracy and volunteering and a stronger community engagement process between communities and statutory agencies.

Moray is the first area in Scotland to run a participatory budgeting process led by an entirely voluntary Working Group made up of 15 very committed volunteers.

Press Release

Released December 18 2017

Latest Round December 2017

The fourth very successful Money for Moray event on Sunday 3rd December saw 19 community groups from across Moray receive a share of £55,000. The fund was allocated through a participatory budgeting process; attendees and members of the public voted by ballot paper for the 10 groups of the 21 presenting they felt should receive funding for projects in their community that would benefit the local economy.
Each group gave a two minute presentation followed by two minutes of questions from the audience. The organisations presenting represented a diverse range of community based activities and services.
One hundred and thirty people attended the event. A full list of the successful groups is below. The event also gave groups an opportunity to hear what other community groups are doing in rural Moray and share ideas and knowledge.

Councillor John Cowe, Chair of Economic Development and Infrastructure announced the winners at the end of the event.

Participatory budgeting is now being used across Scotland, as a way for communities to make democratic decisions about funding for their areas. Some of the benefits of using this model include an increase in participation in democracy and volunteering and a stronger community engagement process between communities and local government.

Moray was the first area in Scotland to run a participatory budgeting process led by an entirely voluntary Working Group made up of 15 very committed volunteers.

A further round of Money for Moray funding will be released early in the new year, this time the theme will be Health and Wellbeing for All Ages.

Further information will be available shortly...

Successful Applicants

Burghead Headland Trust

Forres & District Pipe Band

Craigellachie Village Council

Hopeman Memorial Hall

Archiestown Village Council

Moray Way Association

The Dava Way Association

Lhanbryde Community Challenge

Garmouth & Kingston Heritage Trust

The Findhorn Village Conservation Co.

Covesea Lighthouse Community Co.

Morayvia

Tomintoul & Glenlivet Outdoor Bowling Club

Portgordon Community Newsletter

Forres Area Credit Union

Earthtime for All Ltd

Rothes Community Ltd

Forres Area Community Trust

Aberlour Community Association

Applications are now invited

Released October 21 2017

Latest application form is now available

Apply now for the latest round of PB funding click HERE » for the latest application form.

Press Release

Released October 4 2017

New Funds Available

Money for Moray is delighted to announce that they have received £55,000 from Moray Council’s Economic Development Section for a further round of Participatory Budgeting (PB). PB is an initiative which lets the wider community decide which community group projects will help boost the local economy of Moray. This enterprise is being delivered by the Money for Moray Group – a group of volunteer community representatives from across Moray and follows on from three other successful PB events.

Any local new or existing community or voluntary group/ organisation can apply for funding from £200 to £4000 by completing a short application form. Groups with projects based in the towns of Elgin, Keith, Lossiemouth, Forres or Buckie are ineligible to apply. However, if a group is based in one of these towns and the project is outwith the town area they may apply for this funding.
Projects must deliver economic benefit to the local community, support the local economy and help to make Moray a better place for everyone.
A successful applicant from a previous round of PB funding said “When you are a hardworking community group with a very small income, it is a real privilege to see your application for much needed funding judged on the day by real people. Participatory Budgeting is such a good system. The money released to The Lampie Hoose through Money for Moray has made a huge difference to what we have been able to achieve.” Kay Griffin, The Lampie Hoose, Portgordon.

Application forms will be available on this website from 21 October 2017 with a closing date of 03 November 2017.

Hard copies can be obtained by telephoning 01343 843025 (leave a message).
If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Anita (01343 842289), Alastair (01343 547352), or Linda (01542 850383).

A public event where those in attendance will vote on which applicants should receive a share of the £55,000 will be held in early December – so watch this space!

Press Release

Released June 28 2017

With £40,000 available to fund projects, Money for Moray invited community and voluntary groups to put forward projects that tackled social isolation; 13 projects were successful in receiving funding.

Money £or Moray - What is Participatory Budgeting

Money £or Moray Showcase

Minister for Local Government & Housing at Money £or Moray

Press Release

Released April 20, 2017

MONEY FOR MORAY- LOCAL PROJECTS AIM TO TACKLE SOCIAL ISOLATION - RESULTS

The Lampie Hoose Portgordon - £1,090

Keith & District Med's Shed - £4,000

Moray Womens Aid - £4,000

Dyke Parish Church - £4,000

Moray Reach Out - £4,000

Cathay Residents Association - £3,850

Findochty Church Restoration Appeal - £4,000

Friendly Access - £4,000

Moray Parent & Carers Support Group - £3115.29

Garmouth & Kingston Over 50's Club - £389

Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC - £4,000

Inspirational Colours - £2,224

Keith & Dufftown Railway Association - £1,311.71

You can read the full, official press release Here»
or you can paste this link into your browser - https://pbscotland.scot/blog/2017/3/30/money-and-much-more-or-moray

Press Release

Released March 9, 2017

MONEY FOR MORAY- LOCAL PROJECTS AIM TO TACKLE SOCIAL ISOLATION
Around 20 groups from across Moray will take part in a public voting event on Saturday 25th March, to compete for their share of a £40,000 grant from the Scottish Government’s Community Choices Fund.

58 groups applied to the scheme, which closed to applicants on 10th February, for projects totalling over £117,000. Applicants that met the criteria will take turns to make a two minute presentation at the Grant Hall in Rothes on the 25th, with those attending at the open event voting for which projects should receive a share. Successful groups on the day will receive their cheques from Kevin Stewart, Minister for Local Government and Housing. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Social isolation occurs when an individual experiences a lack or absence of contact such as with family or friends, community involvement or access to services. Applicants were invited to submit ideas for sustainable projects that offered new or additional activities to tackle social isolation.

Alastair Kennedy of the Money for Moray group said “This event will help those applicants who are successful to take their ideas for alleviating social isolation a step forward. This is done in the knowledge that their success is due to the majority of attendees voting for their individual application - which is real democracy at work.”

Help with completing the application form is also available from members of the Money for Moray group; please get in touch if we can assist you.
Applicant groups who meet the criteria will be asked to make a short presentation on their proposed project at a public event which will be held at the end of March.
Members of the public will be invited to attend and vote for the projects they feel should receive a share of the £40,000 Scottish Government Community Choices fund.
Money for Moray will be offering advice sessions on presentation skills before the event, and are happy to speak to individual groups if they have concerns about this part of the process.

Press Release

Released January 5, 2017

MONEY FOR MORAY- OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

The Money for Moray group is pleased to announce that application forms for the 2017 scheme are now available.
Community voluntary groups can apply for up to £4,000 for projects which offer new or additional measures to tackle social isolation in any area of Moray.
Social isolation occurs when an individual experiences a lack or absence of contact such as with family or friends, community involvement or access to services.

A total of £40,000, funded from the Scottish Government’s Community Choices fund, is available. Groups who meet the criteria will be required to make a short presentation on their proposed project, at a public event in late March at which the public will be invited to attend and vote for their favourite projects.

Press Release

Released December 6, 2016

MONEY FOR MORAY- NEW FUND ANNOUNCED

Community groups in Moray are set to get a cash boost next year. Following on from the success of the first Money for Moray participatory budgeting project earlier in 2016, the Money for Moray Working Group are pleased to announce a new funding stream that will open for applications early in the New Year.

£40,000 in total will be available, funded through the Scottish Government’s Community Choices scheme, for projects that voluntary community groups put forward to tackle social isolation in Moray. Ideas for projects could include those that tackle some of the causes of social isolation, including lack of access to services, accessible transport issues, loneliness and low income levels.

Groups will be able to apply once for a maximum of £4,000 and application forms will be available from 5th January 2017, with applications closing on 10th February. Applicant groups who meet the criteria will be asked to make a short presentation to the public at an event to be held in late March 2017.

Alastair Kennedy of the Money for Moray Working Group encouraged groups across Moray to apply: “Here is an opportunity to progress what may as yet be an idea and take it to fruition, to help relieve the awful effects of social isolation which are found across Scotland. That idea, if firmed up and taken to application stage, may at least make a difference to Moray folk who find themselves in this unenviable position. What`s to lose by applying?”

Further details on the scheme, including how to apply, will be available in early January 2017.